What is a Berufsgenossenschaft?
The commercial employers' liability insurance associations (Berufsgenossenschaften) are the providers of statutory accident insurance in Germany. They are organised by industry and provide cover for workplace accidents, commuting accidents and occupational diseases. Their main task is to prevent workplace accidents and occupational diseases, promote employees' health and provide benefits once an accident or illness has occurred.
Duties for employers
As an employer, you have various duties towards the Berufsgenossenschaft that you should know and meet. These duties give your company legal protection. Above all, they protect your employees.
Registration and contributions: Every employer must register the company with the responsible Berufsgenossenschaft. The amount of the accident insurance contributions depends on the company's risk class and the employees' pay. You as the employer bear these contributions alone. They must not be passed on to employees. Recording the payroll data correctly is essential. A digital payroll solution like cleverlohn helps you document all relevant data precisely and ensures smooth handling with the Berufsgenossenschaft.
Occupational safety measures: You must make sure workplaces are safe and comply with the statutory occupational safety rules. The Berufsgenossenschaften support you with advice and information material. They also carry out regular safety inspections and make recommendations for improving occupational safety.
Reporting accidents: Every workplace or commuting accident that leads to more than three days of incapacity for work must be reported to the Berufsgenossenschaft. Occupational diseases must also be reported immediately. These reports are important to secure claims to accident insurance benefits. With cleverlohn you have all key employee data to hand, so you can prepare accident reports quickly and completely.
Rights and duties of employees
As an employee, you benefit from comprehensive insurance cover through the Berufsgenossenschaft without paying any contributions yourself. There are still some important points you should know.
Insurance cover: All employees are automatically insured by their employer with the responsible Berufsgenossenschaft. This cover applies to employees in the classic sense as well as to apprentices, interns and volunteers. It covers workplace accidents, commuting accidents (accidents on the direct route to and from work) and occupational diseases.
Benefits for workplace accidents and occupational diseases: After a workplace accident or an occupational disease, you are entitled to comprehensive care. The Berufsgenossenschaft covers the costs of all necessary medical treatment, remedies and aids. If you are unable to work, the Berufsgenossenschaft pays injury benefit (Verletztengeld) once the employer's continued pay ends, starting from the seventh week of incapacity for work. It is usually 80 percent of your last gross income. Medical and vocational rehabilitation is supported to help you return to work as quickly as possible. In the case of permanent health impairment, an injury pension (Verletztenrente) can be granted.
Prevention work of the Berufsgenossenschaften
Prevention is a core part of the Berufsgenossenschaften's work. They offer training and seminars, provide information material and run accident prevention campaigns. They also have the right to inspect companies and impose fines if occupational safety measures are not followed. This preventive work aims to stop accidents from happening in the first place and to create safe working conditions for everyone.
The role of payroll accounting
Proper handling with the Berufsgenossenschaft is closely linked to payroll accounting. Calculating contributions requires exact figures on pay and the number of employees. A modern digital payroll solution like cleverlohn records all relevant data and makes sure the reports to the Berufsgenossenschaft are complete and correct. This minimises the risk of back payments and saves valuable administrative time.
Conclusion
The Berufsgenossenschaften are an essential part of the German occupational safety system. For employers they bring duties as well as support in creating safe workplaces. For employees they provide comprehensive protection against workplace accidents and occupational diseases. Careful payroll accounting with cleverlohn helps you meet all administrative requirements efficiently. You can then focus on what matters: the safety and health of your employees.
